Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-11-24

ueeu Oh neT SeINlces, anu Ncnb W uct
room to call her, she found her kneel-
ing by the bedside, sobbing eonvm-
sively.
Going to her, she put her tender
arms about her, and said gently:
Tell me your trouble, Barbara.
Perhaps it viii make your heart lighter
TO speak of it."
The woman raised her head and
looked wonderingly into the kind SYM
pathetic face for moment.
At first she made no answer, but
rocked herself to aud fro, moaning to
herself:
II am unworthy, and God has pun
ished me-"
Alice caught the words, and said
softly:
IF you have done wrong, and are
sorry for it, He who chastiseth the chill
dren He loveth will also forgive"
"Can He bring the dead to life?" said
Barbara, suddenly looking ut Alice
with eyes that seemed to read her very
soul.
ut is past the time of miracles; but
Hc can bring healing to the afflicted
heart of the mourner."
The woman's dark eyes filled with
tears.
There is no death like that of love,
and have killed that in my husbands
heart. He hates me! and II am to
blame, l sec it all now. Had | been
like you, the gates of my paradise
would never have been shut upon me.
But l drove him from me with my
hateful wicked temper, and theA'est Of
my life will be joyless and wretched as
it deserves to be-"
"While there is life there is hope,
said Alice solemnly. The words came
to her instinctively. She was greatly
surprised to learn that Barbara's hus-
band still lived, as, judging from her
deep mourning, she had thought her
widowed.
care you in earnest? Do you really
think whatyo sayP" Barbara whole
soul seemed concentrated in her eager
eyes, as she looked at Marks wife. ''You
are an angel, and | will believe what
you say. 1t is you who have taught
me wherein my welded happiness was
wrecked. l should have given my hus-
band loving words and caresses, in
stead of anger and neglect. | would
give ten years of my life to see him,
and tell him of my love and repentance.
But it is too late. )"
They were interrupted by sudden
sound of hurrying footsteps.
The door opened and Mark entered,
followed by stranger to Alice, but not
to Barbara!
She sprang forward with wild cry.
and was caught to his breast.
"Oh, Elmer, forgive-forgiveW
''My poor girl! 1t is | who should
plead to you for forgiveness. Can you
let the past be as sealed book, and
begin our life over again?"
"Oh, so gladly-so joyfully! If you
only knew how longed to see your
dear face since my wild flight away
from you-anywhere | thought, so as
to relieve you of my unwelcome
presence"
"And I, too, my darling! Life has
seemed blank since lost you! But,
please God, nothing shall again divide
US.
Explanations followed.
Elmer Haughton was wealthy; and
in her wild anger at some fancied neg.
lect of her handsome worshippcd hus.
band, Barbara had thought to punish
him by leaving her elegant home, and
| going away from him penniless.
AS she had told Alice, her temper
was fiery and unreasonable. Its con-
slant friction had worn upon Elmer
until his fervent love had apparently
merged into indifference towards the
wife whose beauty and bright ways
had first attracted him.
But musual absence had proved to
each how great was their love for one
another. Owing to the influence Of the
example which Alice had unconsciously
held before Barbara, all is now peace
and happiness with the reunited pair.